16 Crazy Things You NEVER Knew About 'The Notebook'

Hold up. Did you know that Ryan Gosling, the ultimate charmer, and the drop dead gorgeous Rachel McAdams actually didn't get along on the set of The Notebook? And that's not the only twist you didn't see coming.

Get ready to load up on other little-known facts about The Notebook, your go-to romance movie, which was also Ryan's breakout film that launched him onto marquees and into hearts everywhere.

5. The "after seven years Allie and Noah" scenes were actually shot first. After that, the cast and crew took a Christmas break, and Ryan Gosling had to lose the beard and 20 pounds he'd packed on as "Old Noah" to become "Young Noah." Tough holiday!

10. Rachel McAdams received her script for The Notebookthe night before she auditioned for the role ... while she was at another movie's premiere! She beat out nine other stars, including Jessica Biel, for the part of Allie.

11. Other starlets Rachel beat out for Allie? Britney Spears, Ashley Judd, and even Reese Witherspoon.

12. James Marsden, who played the super-wealthy and handsome Lon Hammond, admitted, "I thought The Notebook was going to be a schmaltzy Movie of the Week–type thing."

14. When older Noah and Allie eat lunch after he's read to her, he's wearing his reading glasses. In the next shot, he's shown wearing bifocals.

15. When older Noah and Allie enjoy their candlelit dinner, Allie sits down wearing a plaid shawl over her red jacket. In the next shot, the plaid shawl is off. But hold on! The shawl makes its return in the following shot.

16. Ryan Gosling was director Nick Cassavette's first and only choice for Noah. Before that, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, and even Justin Timberlake were reportedly linked to the film. (Be honest: You're so relieved Ryan got it!)